Newcastle’s Greek community supports mental health sculpture initiative

NEWCASTLE’s Greek community has used traditional music, dance and cuisine to demonstrate its support for the Resilience Sculpture Project, which will be unveiled in Newcastle’s Foreshore Park next month.

The Newcastle Herald has previously reported how psychotherapist Joanne Sinclair approached renowned sculptor Roger McFarlane about three years ago with her vision to create a work that would recognise the impact mental illness has made on the community.

Mr McFarlane travelled to a quarry on the Greek island of Thassos three months ago to choose two blocks of marble weighing a combined 21 tonnes that were installed on July 15 at his base at Camp Shortland.

‘‘I chose Thassos marble because it was reasonably clear, had no cracks through it, was predominantly pure white with a few grey shadows through it and it sparkled in the light,’’ Mr McFarlane said.

‘‘Later, I was at a function at the United Service Club and met a man who had come from the Greek mainland about 12 kilometres from Thassos and told him our story.

‘‘Since then, the Greeks have adopted us.’’

Honorary consul for Greece in northern NSW Geoff Antoniades, rector of The Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church of Newcastle Father Nicholas Scordilis and the church’s Hellenic dancers were among the community members who visited the partially completed sculpture on Sunday, saying it was another symbol of the connection between Greece and the Hunter.

‘‘We were really amazed that the marble had come all the way from Thassos, but the real reason we were impressed and pleased to be someway involved is because of what this sculpture will mean for Newcastle,’’ Father Scordilis said.

‘‘The people behind this project deserve our gratitude and respect, because they’re helping to raise awareness that people in our community are suffering and it can be a rough journey.’’

Ms Sinclair said everyone knew someone who had suffered from mental illness.

‘‘Services can do so much to help people but the community has to do its bit too,’’ she said.

Mr McFarlane is often joined by volunteers as he works for at least eight hours a day on the sculpture – an abstract figure of a female sitting in contemplation, on a rectangular base bearing the word ‘‘resilience’’.

The sculpture will be installed at its permanent location on September 5.